World

Reuters safety adviser killed, two journalists injured in Ukraine hotel strike

Missile strike in Ukraine kills Ryan Evans, a safety adviser to Reuters journalists; investigation underway

Reuters August 26, 2024

Reuters safety advisor Ryan Evans takes a selfie while working with a news reporting team near the border with Gaza in Be'eri, southern Israel on February 8, 2024. File Photo Reuters

Ryan Evans, a member of Reuters' team covering the Ukraine war, was killed, and two Reuters journalists were injured in a missile strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, according to the news agency on Sunday. The two injured journalists are receiving hospital treatment, with one in serious condition.

Reuters stated it is urgently seeking more details about the attack and is working with authorities in Kramatorsk. The agency is also supporting the affected journalists and their families. Evans, a 38-year-old former British soldier, had been working with Reuters since 2022, advising on safety for journalists worldwide, including in Ukraine, Israel, and at the Paris Olympics.

Evans, acting as a safety adviser for Reuters, was killed when a missile hit the Hotel Sapphire, where he was staying as part of a six-person team on Saturday. In a statement, Reuters expressed its deep condolences: "Ryan has helped so many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him terribly."

The remaining three Reuters team members in the hotel during the strike were confirmed safe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the hotel was targeted by a Russian Iskander missile, a ballistic missile capable of reaching distances up to 500 km (310 miles). He described the strike as deliberate and extended his condolences to Evans' family and friends.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to independently verify if the missile that struck the hotel was Russian or if the attack specifically targeted the building.

Earlier, the regional prosecutor’s office in Donetsk province reported that the body of a British citizen was discovered in the rubble of the hotel. The office stated that the hotel was "destroyed" at 10:35 pm local time (1935 GMT) on Saturday, likely by an Iskander-M missile. A pre-trial investigation into the strike has been opened.